Controller for pneumatic compressors.



PATENTED APR. 18, 1905.

` B.P.BBRGH. CONTROLLER PoR PNEUMATIG coMPRssoRs.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.12. 1903-.

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fPATBRTED APR. 18, 1905.

B.} .V5BERGH. CONTROLLER PoR PNBUMATIG GOMPREssoRs..

I APPLICATION FILED D}} 0.12| 1905i.

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UNITED STATES Patented aprirla, i905.

BROR F. BERGH, OF NEW YORK, Y.

oonTnoLLsniFon PNEuMATic coMPREssons.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 787,489, dated. April 18', 1905.

Application filed December 12, 1903. Ferial No. 184,939.

1b all whom it may concern:

Be it known that L BROR F. Benen, a resident of New Yorkl city, State of New York, have-invented a new and useful Improvement in Controllers for Pneumatic Compressors, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

Under many conditions of use' for compressed air it has been found desirable to use the compressed air from a reservir in which the pressure is desired to be maintained at a certain maximum pressure'` it being undesirable that this maximum pressure should be exceeded to any considerable extent at anytime. 1n order to accomplish this, result, the comL pressor is generally operated untilthe desired pressure in the reservoir is obtained, after which the compressor is stopped or thrown out offconnection with the reservoir until the compressor is again put in operation to bring the pressure inthe reservoir up to the desired degree.

The object of the present invention is to provide means for controlling the action of the compressor to the end that the compressor may be automatically vthrown out of operation, as above indicated, when any desired pressure in said reservoir has been attained, and to automatically start the compressor again when the pressure 4in the reservoir has ,fallen below a` predetermined limit.

The device will be of use in a great variety of circumstances, and particularly in connection with-air-brakes for street or railway cars, where a given reservoir-pressure is desired for voperating the brakes, to the end that the braking action may be always of a uniform Y character.

With the objects above mentioned in View the invention consists in a vibratory-member -which controls the y,action of the motor which drives the compressor, said member being subject to reservoir-pressure, so'as to cause it toimove in one d irectiomand to springpressure tending to move it inthe opposite direction, together with means normally restraining saidvibratory member against movement under thereservoir-pressure, which means'are released automatically when the pressure in,y thebreservoir has reached the maximum de-` sired, when the pressure acts to quickly move said member and compress the opposing spring, whereupon it is engaged by an additional retaining device which holds it in such position with the spring compressed. This movement ot' the vibrator-y member underthe reservoir-pressure acts to'throw lthe mo- I tor whichactuates thel compressor out of operation. The parts remain in this position until the pressure in the reservoir has been reduced by use or leakage toa predetermined point, when the retaining device which holds the vibratory'dnember against the action ot' its spring is automatically tripped and the spring throws the said member in the opposite direction and against reservoir-pressure, thereby again bringing .the motor which operates the compressor into active operation.

This vibratory member may be variously constructed. Thus it may have either a reciprocatory or oscillatory movement. ln fact, the inventive 'idea involved may receive various mechanical expressions. For the purpose of illustrating the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings.A which illustrate one form which theinvention may assume.

In said drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the controller designed to operate in' connection with an electric motor for operating a compressor to compress air into a reservoir, the motor, compressor, and reservoir not being shown, as they form no part of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longi-V tudinal section ot' Fig. 1, except that in Fig. l the parts are shown in position for throwing the motor out of action, while in Fig. 2 the parts are in the position for throwing the motor into action. Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of Fig. 3. Fig` 5 is a perspective view of the actuating element for the retaining devices` and Fig. v6 shows diagrammatically the controller with its connections to the motor and air-reservoir.

Referring to the drawings, in which like' reference-numerals refer to like parts, l is any suitable insulating-base, upon which is mounted a cylinder 2, supported upon any suitable standards 3. Leading from one end of said cylinder 2 is a pipe or conduit 4:, which connects with the compressed-air reservoir. (Not roo ` rod A5.,

closure 16, and within seid cylinder l2 e descrew-thneeded stulingyhox, the teneion o'r l in lthe eLv` shown.) Vfithi the pearl withi v eating meen er, the form of 7,5, zunhon the other Y l l nWeir 'felis hn- Wing the 'i i l' downuf'zird dotted linee in Q/ from the :one o pre-venting any heroe.' the freine i7 he formed in Vheup- 4 me, though this treme in the runt e tree puevfnicn einen the end meent to t reservoir :i pieton 6, with en eir-tigh the cylinder, which lit ie pret' ehh by Suitable pecking', as lezitn i e the opposite end of the rod E from the .iieton the rod projects out through e Screw-threaded closure and heeree transverse cross-heed Q. (See 3 and h) intermediate its ends. the piston-rod 5 is provided with e coller or abutment 10, having e Spring il, which ie interposed around the rodbetween the collar i0 and the scz'ew-thieerled stui'l'inghozz Pret'- erehy the portion of the rod surrounded hy he croerfhei no on the outer end of the spring il is oylindricel in Gross-section, the rod Sheer@ contr et@ 2S; :ind 30,which While that portion between the piston and gzelre ei" l contact with pieter; 3l :ind 3;, the .coller l0 is rectangular in croee-seetionder und 245;,

The cyiinder 2interrnediete its ends is pro- `meelectrlcellx/-conductvided with e cross-oyiinder l2, the ends ot which project eho'veend below the o viinder 2, V;- heee sternlarde 323 end il ere the lower end being contracted, so :is to etord i, I with nir ie hindingescrews and a'snieil cylindrical portion 13 and :gn ennuhir 3,6 for reeei 'ed eondu'etors end Shoulder Ll. The lower end of this reduoe'd "i'e, one wir irornthe Source ol elecoylindricei portion 13 communicates hf ver cui und he other ieede to any lQuito'l'. e Conduit l5 with the conduit et, leading to f in addition to themethe compressed-air reservoir. 'lhe upper end Si() 3i? there ere provided of the cylinder 12is oiosed byasorew-threzrded nitriet-e. The crosrfheed eure 'the cerhou pointe and 5:0, which ln the parte ere in tlnpoeition ehown in i, nd 3 (he Y the weition for permitting; current to eene to the motor) Contact I th cerhon noints 2i L borne, respec` tiveiy, upon l, omposed oi cleotricellyeonduc wenreteriei and mounted upon or in electric eom'ieetion with the stenderde Se end SLL rEhe teneionol the Spring-arme enti ie so adjusted that the eerhon pointe el, end 4.9, carried therein7 :rre and on the upper end of the rectangular tranne hele in lirrn eontnct with the ciu-hon points 39 17 is e guide-rod 2l., which projects outward and 40 supported by 'the @rose-heed when through a cent-rei opening inl the Stung- .jeid croee-l-ieed ie in the poeition Shown in OX 16, my Slliible DflClng' beingprovided i end BMA/l e, in poeition to .close the to render the jointhetw-en lthe rod end the throueh the motor. lEuig-thermore, stulHng-box practically air-tight. Spring' the tension or the shrine .s Such 22 surrounds the rod hetiveen the top of that whe the e' the reotengulerframe end the bottom of the `from'tliepoeitior C.; J,

w .non pointe el and e2 reznziin jon pointe 39 and 40 eontactepletee y wel this spring being reguiated hy edjuetnient of 1n et Witl'i the e the Screw threaded stellingn hex 1G. e ehe. squared portion of the rod le provided with Q9 end 54) here eej) from the eontzrcttwo detent-notches 23e-nd l, one oi' which is platee Blend Y he result of this is that formed in the upperand theotherintheiower the formation or' un :irc between the n'ietellie surface ot' the rod, and the''renie i7 .has pivcontect-nhite- 'ether with the destructive oted therein Springqmwle end 245, eo poeh eifel the" c mioiifled, since zi- Sufficient tioned tluitwhen thcireiue l? in its lower- :e ecconiniieh this relnost position the pearl will er )on mi until notch Q3 when it passes the nmot-hi:ite:j have oeuil 26y will engage the noi o preventercingg. ruine 1T is in ite upper-inf n.: the eerV notch ie brought over the evident that il" thi preesiu..

is eulioient when :ir-tinoy une to overcome the te sion :Y freine would he ehii'tod een,

und mounted upon the insulzit? IOO . pressure, acting on the piston 6', suddenly..V

voir, and the tension of the spring 11 being regulated by means of the screwthreaded stuffing-box 8 to the desired tension, and the tension of the spring 22 being regulated by adjusting screw-threaded stuffing-box 16 to thepoint where it will yield when the pressure in the reservoir reaches the desired maximum, and all the parts being in the position indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, the motor continues to operate the compressor, gradually raising the pressure in the reservoir. The tendency of this pressure as exerted upon piston 6 is to drive said piston from left to right as seen in Fig. 2 and against the tension of the spring 11; but this is resisted by the engagement of the detent 25 in the notch 28. The tendency of the pressure in the reservoir which reaches the piston 2O by way of the conduit 15 is to elevate the detent-frame 17, so as to disengage the detent-pawl 25 from the notch 23; but this is resisted by the spring 22. When, however; the pressure in the reservoir reaches the desired maximum, which has been determined by the adjustment of the tension on the spring 22, the piston tent-frame 17, is moved against the tension of the spring 22, thereby withdrawing the detent-pawl 25 from the notch 23 and at'the same time rocking detent-pawl 26 upon its pivot and against the tension of its spring. As soon as the pawl 25 is withdrawn from engagement with the notch 23 the reservoirthrows thepiston from left to right, compressing the spring 11 and bringing the detent-notch 24 over the pawl 26, which pawl thereupon engages in said notch, asshownin dotted lines in Fig. 1, retaining the rod 5 in a position to compress the spring 11. This sudden shifting of the rod5 throws the crosshead 9 outward from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 1, thereby separating the metallic contact-plates 29 and 30 i. from the plates 31 and 32 and the carbon points39 and 10 from carbon points 41 and .42. These carbon points, however, remain in contact for an instant after the metallic plates v Itwill be seen that while have been separated, as hereinbefore described. This action serves to interrupt the current flowing to the motor, and, thus stops the same. Air being'now taken from the reservoir for any desired purpose serves to lower the pressure therein, and when this has been carried to a point below that of the adjusted tension of the spring 22 the spring yacts to shift the frame 17 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2, when the'spring 11 suddenly actsto throw the rod '5 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, when the detent-pawl 25 again engages the detent-notch 23..

the device is exceedingly simple in character, with the parts cheaply zconstructed and not easily put out of order,-

is capable of ready adjustment and 20, and with it the de-4 eiectivelyvoperates to cutoutthe motor, and thus control the compressor, without producing the dangerous and destructive arcing effects so liable to occur in structures of this character.

Fig. 6 shows diagrammatically the controller and its connections. 45 isan electric terl minal. 4.6 is a motor operating a pump 47. l which compresses air in reservoir 4:8, and 2 is the controller and ci rcuit-breaker. Its operation is apparent jfrom the drawings and above description.

What is claimedis 1. In a pneumatic pump controller, th'e i combination of a motor-controlling vibratory member subjected to reservoir-pressure, a single spring opposing said pressure, lneans normally restraining said member against movement under reservoir-pressure, and a releasing device for said-means and actuated by reservoir-pressure of a predetermined degree whereby the said vibratory member is actuthat of reservoir-pressure and said ,spring-` pressure.

2. In a pneumatic-pump controller, the

member subjected to reservoirpressure, a single spring opposing said pressure, means normally restraining said member against movement by said spring when the reservoirpressure falls below the spring tension, and a releasing device actuated against reservoirpressure whereby the said vibratory member is actuated by the difference in pressure between that of reservoirpressure and said spring-pressure.

3. ln`a"pneumatic-pump controller, the combination of a motor-controlling vibratory member subjected to reservoir-pressure, a single spring opposing said pressure, .means movement by either the reservoir-pressure or the spring, and a releasing device for said means which device is actuated alternately by and against reservoir-pressure whereby the 'said vibratory member is actuated by the dif. ference in pressure between that of reservoirv.pressure and said spring-pressure.

combination of a motor-controlling reciproeating member subjected to reservoir-'pressure, a single spring opposing said pressure, a detent holding said member against reservoir-pressure, and detent-releasing means actuated by reservoir-pressure of a predeter mined degree whereby the said `vibratory member is actuated by 'the difference in pres-A sure between that of reservoir-pressure and Said spring-pressure'.

5. In a pneumatic pumpA controller, the combination of a motor-controlling reciprocating member subjected to reservoirpresmeansf. normally e vrestraining said member ated by the difference in pressure between 4. In apneumatic pump controller, thel combination ot' a motor-controlling vibratory IOO normally restraining said member against IIO sure, as ingle spring opposing said pressure ISO against movement under reservoir-pressore. and a releasing device actuated by reservoirpressure of a predetermined degree whereby the said vibratory member is actuated by the diliierence in pressure between that of reservoir-pressure and said spring-pressure.

ii. in a pneumatic pump controller, the combination of a circuit-closing` device. a reciprocating member iii operative relation therewith and subjected to reservoir-pressnre means normally restraining said member against movei lent under reseivoir-pressnre, and a releasing device actuated by reservoirpressnie ot' a predetermined degree wht-:roby- 'the said vibratory member is actuated by the difeiencein pressure bctwc n that of reservoir-pressure and said spring-pressi'ire.

T. .in a pneumatic pump controller', the combination of a n'iotor-controlling' vibratory member subjected to rcseivoir-pressnre, a single spring opposing said pressure, tensioiradinsting' means 'for said spring, means normally restraining'said member against movement under reservoirpressure, and a releasing device for said means and actuated by reservoir-pressure ot a predetermined degree whereby "the said vibratory member is actuated by the dit terence in pressure between that of reservoirpi'essure and said spring-pressure.

Vin pneiimatic pump controller, the combination olE a motor-controllingl ".f'ibratory member subjected. to reservoir-pressure, a singie spring opposing,` said pressure, tension-fidjusting means for said spring. means normally restraining said member against movement by said spring' when the reservoir-pressnre Jfalls below the spring tension, and a releasing device actuated affainst reservoir pressure whereby the said vibratory member is actuated by thel difference in pressure between that ot' reservoir-pressure and/said spring-pressure.

9. ln a pneumatic pump controller, the combination ot' acyiinder open at one end to reservoi r-pressu re, a piston in said cylinder exposed at one side to reservoirqiressure, a spring' on the other side of said piston, a piston-rod attached to said piston, means controlled by reservoir-pressnro for alternately restrainii'ipr and releasingl said pistonrrod and power-controlling' means 'operatedby the piston-rod.

il). in a pneiimatic-pomp controller, the combination ot a cylinder openl at oneend to reservoir-pressnre, a i 'ston in saidcylinder'A exposed at onev side to reseWeir-pressure, a spring on the other side ol said piston, apistoirrod attached to said piston, powerfcontrolling means operated by the piston-rod, and a deten't normally rcstraii against movement by ierven-pressure.

fri. lin :i pneumiiticviiiiijo controller, the combination of a cyliY l -voiribi i. fon, a wer-con said piston f A nat ono end to 1 in said cylinder reir-pressure, a ar nfl' renee ieservoiii ii'essnre, a piston in said cylinder exposed at one sid-cto rescrvoirpressiire, a

spring on the other side of said piston, a piston-rodattached to said piston, poweiconftrolling means operated bythe piston-rod, :il deten'tfnorn'ially restraining said piston against .movement by reservoir-pressare. and a detent-releasing device actuated by .reservoir- 13. In a pnenmatic-pump controller, the combination of a cylinder open at one end to reservoir-pressure, a piston in said cylinder exposed at one side to reservoir-pressure, a spring on the other side ot' said piston, a vpis- .pressnre or a predetern'iined deoice.

ton-rod attached to 4said piston, power-controlling means operated by the piston-rod, a detent restrainingY saidv piston from movement by said spring when the latter is compressed, and a detent-releasing devic actuated against .reservoir-'pressure below a predetermined degree.. 14. in a pneumatie-pump controller, the

combination oi a cylinder open at one end tof iieservoir-pressnre, a piston in said cylinder .exposed at' one side to reseWeir-pressure, a

spring; on the other side oi said piston, a piston-rod. attached to said piston, powcr-con trolling means operated by the. pistonerod, a detent normally restraining' the piston-rod against movement by trie piston, and a detentreleasing slide actuated by reservoir-pressure. 15. In a pneumatic-pump controller, the combination of a cylinder open at one end to reservoir-pressu're, a piston in said cylinder y exposed at one side to reservoir-pressorc, a

spring on the other side oi ysaid piston, a pistoirrod attached to said piston, power-controlling means operated by thepiston-rod, a

detent restraininsar .said piston -i'od lagainst movement by said spring, when compressed, and a spring'wictuatcd detent-releasing' slide moving against rescrvoirgpressu i6. in a pnleiiniatic-pump controller, the combination of 4a cylinder open at one end to reservoir-prcssnre, a piston in said cylinder and exposed on one side to said pressure, a

springl acting on the other side olI the piston, a pistoii-rod attached to sind piston, powercontrolling' means operated by .said rod. re

wisely-finchned detects 'nalrijf eiiiiae'inn' the rod, .vhcre -it is restrained i'roni niort ment by the pistoi'i or the spring :is tin asc may be, and clear-:inn device con-4 tr .niri.

direction, pir-verwenici-oi .7o combination ot' a cylinder open at one end to ICO IIO

by said member,. a slide movingitransversely to the path of said member, two detents carried by said slide and facing in opposite directions, oppositely-facing abutments on said member, means admitting reservoir-pressure to move the slide in one direction, andaspring opposing said movement.

18. In a device for controllinga pneumatic pump which is actuated by electricity, the combination of a vibratory member forming part of the circuit and subjected to reservoirpressure tending to move it in one direction,

' a spring tending to move said member in the piston-rod attached to said piston, acrosscylinder surrounding said piston-rod, a restraining device located 1n thecross-cylmder, and means actuated by reservoir-pressure for operating said device to alternately retain and release the piston-rod.

20. In a pneumatic-pump controller, the combination of a cylinder open at one end to reservoir-pressure, a piston in said cylinder exposed at one side to said reservoir-pressure,` a spring on the other side of said piston, a piston-rod connected to said piston, a crosscylinder surrounding said piston-rod, a piston in said cross-cylinder exposed to reservoirpressure, means normally restraining said piston-rod against movement by either the reservoir-pressure or the spring, and a releasing device for said means actuated by the piston in saidcross-cylinder. l

21. In a pneumatic-pump controller, the combination of a cylinder open at one end to reservoirpre`ssure, a piston in said cylinder exposed at one side to said reservoir-pressure,

a spring on the other side of said piston, au piston-rod attached to said piston, power-con-V trolling means. operated by the piston-rod, means for restraining' the lmovement of the piston-rod located intermediate the piston and said spring, and a piston exposed to said reservoir-pressure for actuating said restraining means.

22. ln a pneumaticpump controller, the combination of a cylinder open at one end to reservoir-pressure, a piston`in said cylinder exposed at one side'to said reservoir-pressure, a spring on the other side ofps'aid piston, a piston-rod attachment to said piston, powercontrolling means operated by' the piston-rod, means for restraining the movement of said piston-rod, and a piston exposed to said reser-,

voir-pressure for actuating said restraining means.

In testimony whereof I have signed this.

speciiication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. BROR F.- BERGH. -Witnesses:

(LA. L. Massin,

R. L. Scor'r. 

